What does it mean to identify certain cultural norms and values as white (and middle class)? When do values stop being white (and/or middle class and/or Western) and start becoming human?
In the united state I think that the middle class set the norms for society. The way that western society consider as being human is having certain qualities and values set by them. any thing less may be seen as being sub human
To identify is to be a regular person. People try to be cultured so to identify is to be like everyone else. And values start to be human when the specific steps are taking to be better than you were before.
What is the norms between the have's and the have;s not that is set in american society as the white;s set the stage for what really values setting the human race.
The white middle-class of America is the largest numeric group in America, albeit not the most powerful economically nor politically. To me, norms can be things and/or behaviors that are highly likely or favored by a group of people. These people may be thought of as, "highly normative" because of their shared commonalities. These things or traits may possess othe qualties which may not exclude other qualitative attributes such as good or bad or good or evil. Cultural norms become human when its attributes and/or qualities become shared cross-culturally, ethically, or morally.
Cultural norms are written by the people who are the colonizers that particular area. So it's no secret that the behaviors and attitudes of the W.A.S.P. permeated the beginning of American culture and have not lost much of their grip since then. Of course we have seen the values of different "sub" cultures take shape and malleate how people carry out their relationships with people they know and likewise do not know.
I think that the one characteristic that is either dormant or prevalent in all capable human beings is that of being cordial. Respect first came to mind, but I've always felt that respect is something that has to be earned; it's not doled out at that moment. That's why I had such a problem with old people who were some of the rudest and nastiest people I've met in my life, who'd rant that I gave them no respect. I'd respond most of the time that just because they were old didn't mean that my respect was automatically generated for them...I digress.
Being civil and not immediately judgmental towards a person when you first meet them can make a huge difference. I am just as guilty for having preconceived notions about people before even meeting them, but it'll turn out that I've had a lot in common with them. So I think just being nice until you have a valid reason to dislike someone/something should be a universally accepted notion. We are all related because we are all human, and just like family we all don't get along sometimes or most of the time, but that doesn't change the fact that we have to live together.
Cultural norms/values are easily identified as "middle class" because this is where the majority of the population lies and these are the standards most people strive to achieve and work for. I don't believe that these values are/were ever associated with a color.
Also, these Western values will continue to be "western" because that's exactly what they are. We are the United States of America. That being said we are unlike any other place in the world and people from all over the world come to America to be apart of our "western" values. I don't think that makes them unhuman or human, it makes them what our country is based and why we are such a great power.
I see that people identify cultural norms as "white", because that is what most people assume is the right and ideal way. We live in a country where the majority who have always ruled have been white.Even though the "whites" have ruled, it is still a country that is growing everyday more and more of different cultures. I would say the white society has not had to go through the same obstacles that other races have had to overcome to be accepted in this country.So it is easy to say that "cultural norms and values" are often considered "white". I think slowly but surely values will not be classified by a specific race being the ideal, because this is a country that is booming with variety of people and will continue to.
To identify certain cultural norms and values as white or middlle class means that the domoinant group in society has all the power and privillages than other minority groups. Often times they are the leaders and the minority groups are the followers. The dominant group set certain standards that other groups should follow and maintain. However a society will operate more effectivly if dominant group 'whites'are able to understand the minority groups cultural,their identity and their views.
I think that values stop being white or middleclass when one should not have to live by the values, norms or beliefs of another group, but when every group can live by their own values and norms and also be seen as thier own individuals.
Wow, people! These thoughts are great to see, and I hope you will keep it up on your blogs, and remember to bring some of this to the classroom. I want to make sure that these kinds of thoughtful reflections are shared and considered with everyone.
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In the united state I think that the middle class set the norms for society. The way that western society consider as being human is having certain qualities and values set by them. any thing less may be seen as being sub human
ReplyDeleteTo identify is to be a regular person. People try to be cultured so to identify is to be like everyone else. And values start to be human when the specific steps are taking to be better than you were before.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the norms between the have's and the have;s not that is set in american society as the white;s set the stage for what really values
ReplyDeletesetting the human race.
The white middle-class of America is the largest numeric group in America, albeit not the most powerful economically nor politically. To me, norms can be things and/or behaviors that are highly likely or favored by a group of people. These people may be thought of as, "highly normative" because of their shared commonalities. These things or traits may possess othe qualties which may not exclude other qualitative attributes such as good or bad or good or evil. Cultural norms become human when its attributes and/or qualities become shared cross-culturally, ethically, or morally.
ReplyDeleteCultural norms are written by the people who are the colonizers that particular area. So it's no secret that the behaviors and attitudes of the W.A.S.P. permeated the beginning of American culture and have not lost much of their grip since then. Of course we have seen the values of different "sub" cultures take shape and malleate how people carry out their relationships with people they know and likewise do not know.
ReplyDeleteI think that the one characteristic that is either dormant or prevalent in all capable human beings is that of being cordial. Respect first came to mind, but I've always felt that respect is something that has to be earned; it's not doled out at that moment. That's why I had such a problem with old people who were some of the rudest and nastiest people I've met in my life, who'd rant that I gave them no respect. I'd respond most of the time that just because they were old didn't mean that my respect was automatically generated for them...I digress.
Being civil and not immediately judgmental towards a person when you first meet them can make a huge difference. I am just as guilty for having preconceived notions about people before even meeting them, but it'll turn out that I've had a lot in common with them. So I think just being nice until you have a valid reason to dislike someone/something should be a universally accepted notion. We are all related because we are all human, and just like family we all don't get along sometimes or most of the time, but that doesn't change the fact that we have to live together.
Cultural norms/values are easily identified as "middle class" because this is where the majority of the population lies and these are the standards most people strive to achieve and work for. I don't believe that these values are/were ever associated with a color.
ReplyDeleteAlso, these Western values will continue to be "western" because that's exactly what they are. We are the United States of America. That being said we are unlike any other place in the world and people from all over the world come to America to be apart of our "western" values. I don't think that makes them unhuman or human, it makes them what our country is based and why we are such a great power.
I see that people identify cultural norms as "white", because that is what most people assume is the right and ideal way. We live in a country where the majority who have always ruled have been white.Even though the "whites" have ruled, it is still a country that is growing everyday more and more of different cultures.
ReplyDeleteI would say the white society has not had to go through the same obstacles that other races have had to overcome to be accepted in this country.So it is easy to say that "cultural norms and values" are often considered "white". I think slowly but surely values will not be classified by a specific race being the ideal, because this is a country that is booming with variety of people and will continue to.
To identify certain cultural norms and values as white or middlle class means that the domoinant group in society has all the power and privillages than other minority groups. Often times they are the leaders and the minority groups are the followers.
ReplyDeleteThe dominant group set certain standards that other groups should follow and maintain. However a society will operate more effectivly if dominant group 'whites'are able to understand the minority groups cultural,their identity and their views.
I think that values stop being white or middleclass when one should not have to live by the values, norms or beliefs of another group, but when every group can live by their own values and norms and also be seen as thier own individuals.
Wow, people! These thoughts are great to see, and I hope you will keep it up on your blogs, and remember to bring some of this to the classroom. I want to make sure that these kinds of thoughtful reflections are shared and considered with everyone.
ReplyDelete